[07/11/06 - 12:00 AM]'America's Got Talent' Is the #1 Show in Adults 18-49 and Total Viewers for the Second Consecutive Week

[via press release from NBC]

'AMERICA'S GOT TALENT' IS THE #1 SHOW IN ADULTS 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE WEEK

'AMERICA'S GOT TALENT' IS THE #1 SHOW IN ADULTS 18-49 AND TOTAL VIEWERS FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE WEEK

BURBANK, Calif. � July 11, 2006 � For a second straight week, "America's Got Talent" has earned primetime television's #1 ranking in adults 18-49 and total viewers. NBC averaged a 1.8 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49 and 6.0 million viewers overall for the week of July 3-9, finishing #2 for the week by both measures, according to in-home viewing figures from Nielsen Media Research.

"America's Got Talent" ranked #1 this week (out of a total 118 programs) in adults 18-49 (4.1/12) and overall total viewers (12.0 million), as well as in adults 25-54 (4.6/12). This marks the second consecutive week that "America's Got Talent" has been the #1 show of the week in 18-49 and total viewers, and third week in a row by both measures excluding sports. During the week of June 19-25, the premiere of "America's Got Talent" ranked #2 in 18-49 and total viewers, trailing only ABC's primetime telecast of the NBA Finals.

Since the end of the traditional broadcast season, NBC is running #2 in adults 18-49, with a 2.1 rating versus Fox's 2.4, CBS' 2.0 and ABC's 2.0 (May 25-July 9, 2006).

The top-rated original summer series introduced so far are NBC's "America's Got Talent" (a 4.3 in 18-49), Fox's Thursday and Wednesday editions of "So You Think You Can Dance" (both averaging a 3.9 in 18-49) and NBC's "Last Comic Standing" (a 3.8 in 18-49).

NBC highlights for the week of July 3-9:

* On Wednesday, the third episode of "America's Got Talent" was the #1 show of the week in 18-49, 25-54 and total viewers. "Talent" was the #1 show to air on any network in both adults 18-49 and total viewers since the "Talent" premiere on June 21. "Talent" has now delivered NBC's three highest 18-49 ratings in its time period since the Winter Olympics in February.

* "America's Got Talent" grew by 8 percent in 18-49 and 9 percent in total viewers versus the prior week. "Talent" was also up 64 percent versus NBC's adult 18-49 average in this Wednesday time period last summer and by 28 percent versus the network's regular 2005-06 season slot average.

* On Tuesday, the annual "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks� Spectacular" delivered that special's highest 18-49 rating in four years and its highest total viewership in six years. It ranked #1 in the time period in adults 18-49 (tie), adults 25-54 and total viewers.

* Also on Tuesday, an encore "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" was #1 in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers. NBC was #1 on Tuesday night in adults 18-49, tied with Fox, and #1 outright in adults 25-54 and total viewers.

* NBC won Sunday night in adults 18-49 and total viewers as "Dateline NBC" reported its highest Sunday 18-49 rating since April 30, and encores of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" and "Crossing Jordan" delivered their highest ratings since their season finales in May

Ratings reflect "live plus same day" data unless otherwise noted. Season-to-date figures are averages of live only results through Dec. 25 and "live plus seven day" data since then, except for the two most recent weeks, which are live plus same day.

Additional NBC highlights for the week of July 3-9:

On Monday, July 3 at 9 p.m. ET, an original episode of "Treasure Hunters" (1.8 rating, 6 share in adults 18-49, 5.0 million viewers overall) built by 80 percent in adult 18-49 rating on its lead-in � a 1.0/4 in 18-49 and 3.0 million viewers overall for a "Treasure Hunters" rebroadcast from 8-9 p.m. ET.

On Tuesday, July 4 at 9 p.m. ET, "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks� Spectacular" (2.1/8 in 18-49, 8.0 million viewers overall) delivered that annual special's highest 18-49 rating since 2002 and largest total viewership since 2000. It ranked #1 in adults 18-49, tied with Fox's "House" encore, and was #1 outright in adults 25-54 and total viewers.

Also on Tuesday at 10 p.m. ET, an encore telecast of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" (2.1/8 in 18-49, 7.5 million viewers overall) ranked #1 in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers.

NBC was #1 on Tuesday night in adults 18-49 (tied with Fox) and #1 outright in adults 25-54 and total viewers.

On Wednesday, July 5 at 9 p.m. ET, the third episode of "America's Got Talent" (4.1/12 in adults 18-49, 12.0 million viewers overall) was up 8 percent in adults 18-49 and 9 percent in total viewers versus the prior week and was the #1 telecast on any network in adults 18-49 and in total viewers since the "Talent" premiere on Wednesday, June 21.

"America's Got Talent" was up 64 percent in 18-49 rating versus NBC's average in the time period last summer (4.1 vs. 2.5) and up 28 percent versus NBC's average in the time period during the recently concluded 2005-06 regular season (4.1 vs. 3.2).

"America's Got Talent" has now delivered NBC's three highest 18-49 ratings in this time period since the Winter Olympics in February.

"America's Got Talent" surged by 95 percent in 18-49 rating versus its lead-in � a 2.1/7 in 18-49 and 6.7 million viewers overall for an 8-9 p.m. ET encore telecast of last week's edition of "Talent." From its first half-hour to its second, "America's Got Talent" increased in 18-49 rating by 25 percent (to a 4.5/13 from a 3.6/12). The overall audience for "America's Got Talent" grew by nearly 1.9 million viewers from half-hour to half-hour.

Also on Wednesday, at 10 p.m. ET an encore "Law & Order" (2.5/7 in adults 18-49, 8.2 million viewers overall) ranked #2 by all key measures.

On Thursday, July 6 at 8 p.m. ET, an encore "My Name is Earl" (2.2/8 in 18-49, 5.6 million viewers overall) was up 29 percent versus the prior week and ranked #2 in adults 18-49 and #1 among men 18-34, 18-49 and 25-54. Encore telecasts of "The Office" averaged a 1.9/6 in 18-49 and 4.2 million viewers overall at 8:30 p.m., a 1.8/5 in 18-49 and 3.5 million viewers overall at 9 p.m. and a 1.8/5 in 18-49 and 3.8 million viewers overall at 9:30 p.m. At 10 p.m., "Windfall" averaged a 1.9/6 in 18-49 and 4.5 million viewers overall.

On Friday, July 7 from 8-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" averaged a 1.5/6 in 18-49 and 5.9 million viewers overall. "Dateline" was #1 in all key adult female demos and #2 among adults 25-54 and total viewers.

NBC won Sunday night in adults 18-49 and total viewers. In 18-49, this is NBC's first Sunday win since Sept. 4, 2005. In total viewers, this marks NBC's first Sunday victory since the Winter Olympics.

On Sunday, July 9 from 7-9 p.m. ET, "Dateline NBC" (2.0/7 in 18-49, 7.1 million viewers overall) delivered its highest Sunday 18-49 rating since April 30, ranking #2 in this time period, just 0.1 of a rating point out of first place. "Dateline" was #1 in adults 25-54 (tie) and #1 outright in all key adult female demos.

At 9 p.m. ET, an encore "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2.6/7 in 18-49, 8.9 million viewers overall) was a strong #2 in adults 18-49, and was #1 in adults 25-54, total viewers and other key measures. This was a 63 percent increase in 18-49 versus the prior week (2.6 vs. 1.6) and was the highest-rated "Criminal Intent" since the series fifth-season finale on May 14. At 10 p.m., an encore "Crossing Jordan" (2.1/6 in 18-49, 7.4 million viewers overall) was up 40 percent in 18-49 versus the prior week (2.1 vs. 1.5), delivering its highest 18-49 results since the show's fifth-season finale on May 7.